Sermon on Occafion of a public Fall. 333 of the ancient prophets turns ; and their prin- SERM. cipal defign feems to be to inculcate upon XIII. men a ferióus attention to the public revolu- tions in ftates and kingdoms, whether prof. perous or adverfe, in order to promote reli- gion ; to lead them to repentance by the .means of public difafters, and encourage them to the praEtice of piety and righteoufnefs by public profperity : in order to which this is the idea they conftantly give of fuch viçißi- .tudes, that they are effefted by the provi- dence of God aEting as the moral governor of the world. This was particularly proper for the teachers of Ifrael to infrft upon, becaufè it was agreeable to and in purfuance of the national covenantGod made with that people, the eflablifhed fanEtions whereof were na- tional or temporal, rewards for obedience, and punifhments for difobedience. But although this be not the proper fándion of Chriftianitÿ, which is the kingdom of Chrift, not of this world, and not fo properly a national religion like the yewifh, as in every nation a perfonal religion to all who receive it; yet, I cannot help thinking that the common courfe of worldly affairs with refpeEt to nations and kingdoms, confidered as under the direction of an in- vifible, perfectly wife, and righteous ruler,
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